Roger Hammonds Sr., 79, passed away on September 4, 2024, at Richard A. Anderson Texas State Veteran’s Home in Houston, Texas. He was born on May 6, 1945, at Wabash Hospital to Leslie and Louise Hammonds.
In his younger years, with his family at home, he was known to be a great jokester and teaser. He enjoyed fishing with his buddy, Dick Tracy, in high school and loved working on cars while spending time with his buddies. Roger had a three-wheeled Harley motorcycle that he delighted in driving around town and out to Long Lake. A talented musician, Roger learned to play banjo and guitar at an early age and was proficient in playing lead, bass and rhythm guitar, which he continued for as long as his fingers allowed.
Roger loved earning his own money and started mowing yards while still young before going to work at the OK Barber Shop in town. He also worked for Louis and Lex Longo, both at Louis Candy Kitchen and at their lake house, where he helped with yard work and various odds and ends. Roger graduated from Manchester High School in 1963 before being drafted to serve in Vietnam. There he earned several recognitions and honors, including the Bronze Star Medal. Roger’s life was forever changed by the Vietnam War; he did not return home the same person he was when he left. Roger remained in the service and at one point served as secretary to four-star General William Westmoreland. His time in the Army also took him to Riley, Kansas and Panama before he landed in Plain City, Ohio, where he eventually retired after spending nearly eleven years as a service member.
After retiring from the service, Roger owned a filling station in Plain City, Ohio. He’d always had a love for cars and engines, participating in drag races and acquiring many trophies racing stock cars. He was part owner of a stock car for a time and worked with mechanics on the racetrack. Roger eventually sold the filling station and went to work for Honda in St. Marys, Ohio, where he worked his way from floor worker to manager. He organized production, assisted in the building and layout of the new Honda plant, and traveled internationally many times to assist Honda’s overseas plants before taking early retirement while in his late 50s.
Roger then moved to Florida and drove cross country semi to supplement his income in retirement. He also trained others on how to drive semis. Before fully retiring for good, Roger drove parking shuttle buses part-time at Orlando International Airport. Possessing a gift for gab, Roger loved this job and the opportunity it provided him to talk with passengers and assist with their luggage. He also loved water and immensely enjoyed being at the ocean. Roger finally bought a boat for the lake that he named the “Boop Sloop III”.
In the late 2000s Roger moved to Conroe, Texas. About ten years later his eyesight and health began to decline, and by 2022 he moved to a veteran’s home in Houston, Texas, to receive further care. He later succumbed to dementia and complications from a fall.
Roger is survived by:
2 children:
A son, Roger (Tonya) Hammonds Jr. of Russia, Ohio, and a daughter, Ashley Lee (James) Anteau of Monroe Michigan.
7 Grandchildren:
Jessica Hall, Chase Hammonds, Conner (Kaylie) Hammonds, Riley Hammonds & Shay Hammonds, Gavin Anteau and Jase Anteau.
2 Great Grandchildren:
Oakland Hammonds & Haiden Hammonds;
A brother, Dr Max (Cari) Hammonds of Hendersonville, North Carolina; and sisters, Marty Quance of Warsaw, Indiana and Susie Scott of Silver Lake, Indiana.
He is also survived by two good longtime friends in Texas; Mike O’Neal; and Julie Ashcraft, who was also his caregiver.
Roger was preceded in death by his daughter, Ronda Hammonds; parents, Leslie and Louise; sister, Ruth Hamilton; and brothers-in-law, Carter Quance and Ted Hamilton.
A short memorial service will be held on November 9, 2024, at McKee Mortuary, 1401 State Road 114 West, North Manchester, Indiana, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and a funeral service with military honors at 11:00 a.m. A dinner will be held after the funeral at the Congregational Christian Church, 310 N. Walnut St., North Manchester, Indiana.
The family has entrusted McKee Mortuary with care and final arrangements.
